England's Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's most recent Test for New Zealand was versus England in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be available for the opening match because of his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, aged 36, took up a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.
Speaking as England's team for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was named, he said of his availability: "We're still working through the situation at the moment.
"We will determine the outcome over the coming days."
England bowling legend Stuart Broad had stated the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which starts on November 21.
"In my view there's ever a poor Aussie side," Southee remarked.
"Our focus is squarely on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the quality of [the English] side that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.
"It ought to be an thrilling encounter, that series. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
But, prior to England travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Brydon Carse
Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
